Baseball game



July 28, 1936. w. H. PARKER ET AI. 2,049,314 BASEBALL. GAME Filed Sept. lO, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 28, 1936. w. H, PARKER ET AL.

BASEBALL GAME Filed Sept. l0, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Summa/u S Patented July 28, 1936 Airan STATES PATEN'l OFFICE mond, Va.,

assignors of one-third to said Parker and two-thirds to said Gregory Application September 10, 1934, Serial No. 743,448

6 Claims.

This invention relates to a'game of baseball, and particularly one' which is played by a number of players, such as two or more, and in which a means, preferably `adeck v'of specially constructed.

and marked cards is usedin combination with an indicating means which may take the form of .a chart, and score cards. Y

An object of the invention is to provide a baseball cardgame, based upon the science of.base ball, and which insures the faithful following out of the various plays, such as take place during the Vplaying of agameof baseball, and such plays as'actually occur when teams of the major leagues oppose eachother,

Another object of the invention is to provi-de a baseball card game in the playing of which the breaks of the game occur substantially in the same manner and sequence as in a big league game.

Another object of the ,invention is to. provide 'a baseball game, the plays of which are Ycontrolled equally by both sides, or by the teams which oppose each other.

Still another object of the invention is to Yprovide a game of the character described, during the playing of which, advantage is taken both of the element of luck and as the result of the skill of the respective players.

A further object is to provide a game of the 30 class described, which so faithfully represents the various and intricate plays of baseball as to be fully adapted for userin Ythe teaching -of inside cation and drawings, Vwhich exemplify a pire-r ferred form of our invention,

In thev drawingsz.-

various conditions of play of a baseball game; Figure 2 discloses one of the cards having thereon a series of lines, having on said lines data, 50 indicating the various plays of the game and the results of said plays; and

Figure 3 discloses another ofthe cards similar to Figure 2.

`The primary purpose of the card game com- 553ffprising this invention is; to so closely adhere .to-

Figure l illustrates achart, settinglforth the the science and strategy of the modern baseball game, particularly as played by teams of the major leagues and according to the oiicial rules of the game, that the game is capable of teaching the fine points of major league baseball to students of the game, and affords considerable amusement while so doing. b

A means, one form of which is shown by Figure l is provided for indicating `which line on any one of a series of means, herein shown as cards, 10 is applicable with a given situation, 'Ihe indicatingr means may consist of a chart mounted on a sheet as shown in Figure l, but any other suitable means may be substituted for the chart, such as a board having separate structurally distincl5 tive means such as buttons or representations of the play, etc. suitably designated either colored or uncolored, indicative of the various possible situations occurring in big league baseball. Such situations are shown as 32 in number in 20 addition to situation AB, on the chart shown on Figure l, but this number may be increased or decreased, as this invention is not limitedto the number shown, although the number given is the preferred form of our invention.

Each of the cards, preferably sixty in number, two of which are shown by way of example in Figures 2 and 3, contain play AB and 32 additional plays corresponding to the situations given on the chart. Each situation on the chart is connected to the play or action to follow as given by the cards, as a result of said situation, by corresponding numbers on the cards and chart with the exception of AB (batter up with none,

one or two out and no players on bases). Al-

though not shown,'the means for connecting each. situation on the-chart with the play on each card to which it corresponds, may consist of a series of notches or perforations on the chart and cards. For instance, each card instead of havin the numeral may be provided with a single notch or perforation which will correspond to a single notch or perforation on the chart, in place of the numeral l on said chart. In place of numeral 2 tions mayV be used, or some other designation -such as a small cut out crescent, horseshoe, X,` T, or other letter, or other designating means. During the playing of the game, when a given situation has been located on the chart, the cut out 50.

on the chart and cards, two notches or perfora- 45 l therchart and moved aro-und until the cut out,

T or other character aligns with the printed T" beneath it, thereby providing an indication of the progress of the game while studying the situation before deciding the next move which Y may be a stolen base, sacrifice hit and run play base hit.

' in addition to the other rst given 21V situations,

and situation AB on the chart.

When the device as shown by the drawings isV used, the game is played as follows: A coinV may be tossed to determine which captain orV team fmanager will be the home team, and whichy the visiting team. The visiting team will be rst at bat. A Y

The rst line on each of the play indicating meanshereink shown as playing cards is indicated AB byV lettering, perforations or otherwise, and the AB play is always the correct play to make with no runners on base (either withy none, one n card. 'The card below that'which has been turner. n

is read on the line opposite AB, which reading matter'indicates the first play. Example: The. l card reads Single to LF. The captain Yof the Visiting team now consults the chart` until he finds the proper situation; that is, the line which states Runner on first base-no outs. On the same line with this statement is an' indicating means such as a numeral or cutout portion. The next uppermost card is now again turned by the visiting captain, and the next card isrconsuited and thenumeral or cutout portion vfound which corresponds to that on the chart opposite the words Runner .on first base-no outs.V Opposite this numeral or cutout portion on the card will be Vfound the play. Example:` The card reads Grounder to short stop. Batter outv at first.

Runner to second base. The situation now is, Y

one man out and one man on second base.

the chart andv 'nds that vwith a. 'man on second base Vand, one out the line indicated by numeral .i

balls. This results in the visitors having one'VV man on rst base and one rman on second base `and one man out. The lcaptain at bat consultsl the chart and finds that line I I is the correct play' to call. The captain inthe field-turns the next card and yreads the play opposite the gure on' thek next uppermost card. Example: The card reads Fly to center field, batter out. VThe reV sult of the play isrthat the visiting team has men on first and second "bases, with two'men out. Upon consulting the'chart the captainv of the:

visiting team finds "that line I2 correspondsto ithis condition. The captain of the team in the* eld turns a cardand reads the playgiven oppositenumber I2. Example: The card reads Three for number 9.

The captain ofl the visitingv team now consults TheV captain of the" This play scores the runners on rst and second bases and leaves va man on 'third'base I :with two outs.Y y 'L The captain of the visiting team (at bat), upon consulting the chart finds that'the condition i specied (two out and one on third base) calls the next card. Example: The card reads opposite number 9 thereon the following: Strike out. The Visiting team having three outs is retired to the field/and the home team takes its turn at bat until three outs occur, as shown above.- The game iscontinued for nine innings or longer, if the sides are tied, and Vuntil one side has the most runs, vin the same manner as a regular game between real teams.

After` the players become familiar with the playing of the game, certain innovations maybe The captain in the eld turnsv used, under certain circumstances, as Vfollows,`

which include the decision to use the hit and run play, sacrifice plays and stolen base plays.

. 'I'he captain of the team in the field turns the' uppermost card andreads from theinext card the vwordsV (for example) opposite AB, Base on balls. The captain of the team at bat then decides totry the ,.hit and run play'instead of base-no outs. VReferring to the chart, he finds the hit'and run play to be numbered 32'. The uppermost card is turned and the play opposite numeral 32 Aon. the next card is read. Example: The card Ireads;fcvrourider to short stop. Batter 'out at rstbasejpFirst base4 runner to sec. ond base. `1 With oneman onV second base andV one man out, the captain of the team at bat may decide to try a stolen base Yplay instead of playing the game by consulting the chart'to nd a number indicating the situation.of one man on second base and'one out (number 5)'. Line 28 corresponds to the condition where it is desired ythe chart'isconsulted and it isfound ythat 24 indicatesv theproper condition Vfor this play. The uppermost card is turned and the next card reads (for'e'xample), BattersafeA at first base. Run-` ner 3 out at home plate. This makes two outs with one man onjfirst base. The captain at bat now calls for' the regular play (line 3 on chart), and upon turning the uppermostcard, reads the Q number I on the chart, which reads Man on first to try a stealZ'from second to third base. TheY play under'n'umber 3, which reads (fo-r example), Grounder to short stop. jBatter out at firstV base. This play retires the side and allows the other side to come to bat unless, the nine innings 1 without tie have been played.

If the teamfin the neidis having@ number cf 1 runs scoredagainstfit, Va new pitcher can be understood Yto have been placed in the'bo'x( VThis is accomplished by the captain of that team cutting the cards. If the score is 'clos'ea pinch hitter can be used by thete'am at bat, this .being understood as havingj been accomplishedwhen the captain of the team at bat cuts the'cards.Vv Y. Y

By reference Yto the cards, the following should vbe understoodfRunneron rst base is indicated ,RI; -runner on seco-nd' base is indicated R'2;'` runner on rthird baseis indicated VR3; batter is indicated fX; pitcher is indicated ,P; catcher is indicated C,v f

The various positions in Vthe field and/or the players at such positionsare indicated as IB, 2B, 3B, plate, SS, RF, CF and LF. J

In-orderto keep an' `Vaccurate record of the progress 'of the game, each player mayA be providedwith a score card of thekind'ordinarilyV used at baseball games. If it be 'presumed that y the New York Giants are playing the New York l' game but each has one of the opposing teams to in the same manner as if the players of the game were witnessing and keeping score as at an actual baseball game played in the field between these teams. In the instant case, however, the players of the game are not only spectators of the manage and each must, accordingly, make cer- Y tain decisions, depending on the circumstances Ymajor leagues.

of the play of the game, concerning, for example, whether to try a stolen base play, make a sacrili'ice play, a hit and run play, or whether to continue to play straight baseball and omit said plays.

The invention preferably embraces the use of 60 cards as it has been found that this number is about the number of men at bat in an ordinary baseball game. If the game requires more than 60 plays and all the cards have been turned, the cards are used over again, preferably by turning for a second time the card turned at the beginning of the game. Where the cards have been cut, such as when the team in the eld decides to use a new pitcher, the cards are turned in the sequence by which they have been cut. The cards must be shuiled at the end of each half inning.

The plays as listed on each card have been worked out as a result of scientic analysis of a large number of big league baseball games to determine the average number of bases on balls, strike-outs, home-runs, 1 base, 2 base, 3 base hits, double plays, hunts, etc. For instance, in the average big league game, only one home run, four strike outs, five walks, two two-baggers, etc. ma-y occur. In playing the game of this invention, sometimes, more than and sometimes less than the average number of home runs, etc. will occur in each game, but it has been found that in say, one hundred games as played, using this invention, the same number of similar plays will occur as occurred in the actual playing of one hundred big league games. Similarly, the average game when played as taught by this invention, will contain the average number of plays, such as home runs, bases on balls, etc., that will occur in a big league game. Also, the proportion of runs to the number of hits in each game has been worked out to be the same in the playing of the game of this invention, as will be the case in an actual big league game. 'Ihe proportion of each of the other plays to each other has been so worked out that in the playing of the present game they occur in the same proportion as they occur in a game between teams of the This co-relation of the various cards, is considered to be one of the most important objects of this invention.

While the form of the invention herein shown and described is fully adapted to fulfill all of the objects herein recited, it is to be understood that we do not desire to limit the invention in this regard, as the invention is capable of embodiment in various other forms, all within the scope of the following claims.

We claim:-

1. A baseball card game including a plurality of cards, each having thereon va plurality of serially listed plays, identifying means located opposite each play and a situation means designating the situation on the ball eld following each play and having a plurality of identifying means corresponding in number with the number of listed plays on said cards whereby each identifying means on said situation means corresponds to an identifying means on each of the said cards and a series of additional alternative situations on said chart which may be used at the discretion of the players, and plays on each card to be followed as a result of each situation when selected, and corresponding identifying means on said chart and cards.

2. A baseball card game comprising a plurality of cards each having thereon a series of plays separately identied by designating means opposite each play, and means corresponding in number to the number of the plays and being separate from said cards designating the situations on the baseball field following each play and having indicating means for each situation which refers by the same designating means on the several cards to a different play following each of said situations, whereby upon selecting a card from the pack an appropriate, but previously unknown play will be indicated as following each situation and a series of additional alternative situations on said chart which may be used at the discretion of the players, and plays on each card to be followed as a result of each situation when selected, and corresponding identifying means on said chart and cards.

3. A baseball game which comprises, in combination, a key chart having thereon consecutively arranged all of the known situations following a play in baseball, a separate distinguishing designation opposite each of said situations, and a plurality of cards each of which is provided with designations corresponding in number to those indicating the situations on the chart and indicating on each card a previously unknown play to follow from the situation to which reference is made through the designations, said plays varying on the diierent cards but representing any play which may be made from the situation as indicated on the chart and a series of additional alternative situations on said chart which may be used at the discretion of the players, and plays on each card to be followed as a result of each situation when selected, and corresponding identifying means on said chart and cards.

4. A baseball card game comprising a chart having thereon a series of indicated positions of a player or players in a game of ball, including the position of said player or players on one or more bases, and the number of outs of the side being represented, each of said indicated positions being provided with an individual indicating means, in combination with a deck of cards each of which has thereon means to indicate any series of a plurality of plays which may follow any one of the positions on the chart, said plays being provided with an indicating means which corresponds in number to the several indicating means on the chart, whereby when any card is drawn from the pack one of a possible plurality of plays is ascertained by the corresponding indicating means of the position of the player or players last determined from the chart and a series or additional alternative situations on said chart which may be used at the discretion of the players, and plays on each card to be followed as a result of each situation when selected, and corresponding identifying means on*Y said chart and cards. i

5. A baseball game including a plurality of, means each having thereon a plurality of serially listed plays, identifying means located opposite each play and a situation means designating the situation on the ball field following each play and having a plurality of identifying means corresponding in number to the Vlisted number of plays of said first vmentioned means whereby eachk identifying means on said situation meansu corresponds to identifying means on said rst named means and a series of additional alternative sit-- uations on said chart which may be used :at the discretion of the players, and plays on each card to be followed as a result of each situation when selected, and corresponding identifying -means on said chart and cards. e

6. A baseball card game comprising, in combination, a chart having thereon consecutively arranged.;Idesignatiol1 s y for the various situations Y found in playing va game of baseball, a separate distinguishing' designation Vopposite said situations, Vand a pluralityof cards each of which is providedwith designations corresponding to those l indicating the situations onfthe chart, said chart Y and each card having alikenumbrer of situations and plays respectively, and indicating oneach cardan unknown play to follow from the situation to which reference is made through the designa-f tions, said playsV V.varying vbut Yrepresenting any play which may be made from the situation as indicated on ythe-chart,ysaid chart being arranged l 'DAVID VFormadores?. 

